Losing Your Soul To Commercialism

sonic1 · January-16th-2005, 11:36 AM

My wife and I went to the new Ikea in Phoenix.

It is huge, dwarfing the commercial power of home depot. If you buy stock get Ikea stock. It is the up and coming Home Depot. People just cannot get enough of the place. They watch your kids, you can eat there during your trip, it is commercialism at the most commercial extent.

And I was am all ready to participate. We only dropped 100 bucks there last night but vowing to return after we assess what else we need for our house. But I couldn't help but feel like a netted fish. Unless you have had this Ikea experience it is hard to describe. But if I were from another less-to-do country I would have probably cried like an Argentine friend of mine did when she first went into an american supermarket. The choices all too much. The plenty almost all too plenty. My problem is that Ikea just has too much of what you want. And there is something really scary about it. Am I just crazy?

AntManBee · January-16th-2005, 12:30 PM

And no matter what you're buying, there always seem to lack some little thingy so you can't get the fucking shelf or whatever together.

writing from Ikea's native land,
AntManBee

Jon Abbey · January-16th-2005, 12:37 PM

a lot of it is pretty cheaply made, it looks better than it actually is, fine if you're just getting out of college.

Jared, if it makes you feel better, we've had one here for at least 15 years, and I haven't bought anything there for at least 12 or 13.

also, did you see the South Park Wal-Mart episode from this past season? your post made me think of that, pretty funny...

Richardo Caerleoni · January-16th-2005, 12:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AntManBee

And no matter what you're buying, there always seem to lack some little thingy so you can't get the fucking shelf or whatever together.

writing from Ikea's native land,
AntManBee

Ant...Hey, you are right!...We get the stuff home, open a bottle of wine/or three...then I'm ready to "assemble"...
and its like an IQ test...find the missing bracket....I then drink more wine...and....

We have boxes of God knows what ...all stored...waiting...

One day people will invade Sweden (only over the bridge) and demand an answer!

RC.

Monte Smith · January-16th-2005, 01:04 PM

There is a columnist called Lucy Kellaway at the Financial Times who is in love with Ikea and that love includes frank astonishment at their customer service--which simply doesn't exist. I mean, they will watch your kids, but they will not help you with your furniture. You want a bookshelf? OK, it's over there. No, we won't put it in your car. No, we won't assemble it for you. You want delivery? I think there may be a way to do that, but I'm on lunch. Problem with your furniture? Give us a call. We don't answer the phone. You can look on our website, but you can't really buy anything there or get a response to a query.

Still, they deliver a product which is popular for what it is: cheap, of interesting design, impermanent. And they sell hot dogs really cheap.

They are not true competitors with Home Depot, though. Not really the same business.

AntManBee · January-16th-2005, 01:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Richardo Caerleoni

One day people will invade Sweden (only over the bridge) and demand an answer!

I'll be on the invaders side because I WANT ANSWERS TOO!!!

lazarus · January-16th-2005, 01:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AntManBee

I'll be on the invaders side because I WANT ANSWERS TOO!!!

Traitor!!!!!

Sergio Zamora · January-16th-2005, 01:52 PM

It appears the Swedes would want to keep all American citizens distracted for long periods of time with complicated, cryptic assembly instructions...

...and then they will attack.

graypencil · January-16th-2005, 02:08 PM

Well , as a fan of both contemporary furnishings of both Danish and Swedish origin ..I compliment you on your designs ,and the overall manufacture of your products ..those NOT sold in chain stores like ikea.

I have a large numbers of wood pieces throughout the house that were bought over the years in various NON CHAIN contemporary furnishings outlets both in LA and Dallas ..none of them required assembly initially ( although they've been moved a few times over the years ) and they've all held up beautifully.
I have two wall units and one of them dates from the mid 60s . the living room unit dates from the early 80s ..both are in great shape ..as are the chairs, occasional tables, etc as well.

Just wanted to expresss my admiration for you guys regardless which side of the bridge y'all reside on ..

..and I don't do "assembly" jobs on anything!!

Pete C · January-16th-2005, 02:17 PM

Ikea is coming to Brooklyn. To Red Hook, where this takes place:

AntManBee · January-16th-2005, 02:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lazarus

Traitor!!!!!

Easy for you to say who get all the pieces in the package! Hmph!

Richardo Caerleoni · January-16th-2005, 02:19 PM

Classic Danish design...Perfect!
And all in one piece...Assembly?

Push it near the CD player and open the wine!

RC.

AntManBee · January-16th-2005, 02:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sergio Zamora

It appears the Swedes would want to keep all American citizens distracted for long periods of time with complicated, cryptic assembly instructions...

...and then they will attack.

Damn! Who leaked this???

Richardo Caerleoni · January-16th-2005, 02:34 PM

The Finns!

mke · January-16th-2005, 02:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jon Abbey

a lot of it is pretty cheaply made, it looks better than it actually is

Exactly!

It's good for small stuff you want to look a little stylish, though: kitchen utensils, cutlery, lights, etc. Apart from that, don't get anything you want to age gracefully. The hot dogs (and free drink refills!) are definitely a highlight of any Ikea expedition.

sonic1 · January-16th-2005, 03:00 PM

Whatever one THINKS about Ikea, they will be everywhere. Mark my words. Buy your stock now. I could not believe how busy the place was, and near closing. I wonder if they are breaking fire codes. I mean it was really packed, and it has been open I think for some months now. It is not like Phoenix is lacking in places to shop either!

I have let Tucson seep into my blood. I really don't like those big commercial places. Even if they DO have everything. But my wife has already made plans to go back. Jon, I agree with you, but Arizona really lacks in options. I mean, it is either Target, Walmart or Ikea really. No local places. If someone else knows of another option I am all ears.

AntManBee · January-16th-2005, 03:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Richardo Caerleoni

The Finns!

Pete C · January-16th-2005, 03:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mke

The hot dogs (and free drink refills!) are definitely a highlight of any Ikea expedition.

And one doesn't expect them to age gracefully.

mke · January-16th-2005, 04:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pete C

And one doesn't expect them to age gracefully.

Neither do too-frequent visitors!

GoodSpeak · January-16th-2005, 06:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pete C

Ikea is coming to Brooklyn. To Red Hook, where this takes place:

Oooo, Man Pete....that is one harsh book/movie.

[yike!]

Pete C · January-16th-2005, 06:23 PM

Harsh indeed, but really affecting. The film adaptation wasn't bad at all. I had actually avoided the book for years, thinking it would be a sensationalistic mess, and when I finally read it (to work on with a continuing ed. class I was teaching) I was really impressed.

Jon Abbey · January-16th-2005, 06:24 PM

yep, good book.

GoodSpeak · January-16th-2005, 06:25 PM

I still can't get the more brutal scenes out of my head.

Wow.

Richardo Caerleoni · January-16th-2005, 07:01 PM

This has gone "off tread"...and didn't Ornette do part of the sound track to "last Exit"?

ANYWAY...DANISH (Include Sweden, Finland and Norway in here)...

Looks like...plus steel and suade...

Would ask you all over, but you'd leave beer glasses on the piano, rip off my Lars CDs, and say you had "a record contract"...we've been there!

Seriously, Scandinavia does great furnishings...always has/still does...and I once first trained as an architect in the 60s.

RC...no beer bottles on MY table!

Pete C · January-16th-2005, 07:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Richardo Caerleoni

This has gone "off tread"...and didn't Ornette do part of the sound track to "last Exit"?

No, Naked Lunch.

Richardo Caerleoni · January-16th-2005, 07:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pete C

No, Naked Lunch.

AGHHHH! Right!

Pete, many thanks...got confused defending Lester on another thread!

RC.

Dr Dave · January-16th-2005, 07:35 PM

I became interested in selling my soul to commercialism as soon as I found out I had one and that it could be sold.

GoodSpeak · January-16th-2005, 08:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pete C

No, Naked Lunch.

Whew!

That's better.

Pete C · January-16th-2005, 08:14 PM

Mark Knopfler did the "Last Exit" soundtrack.

crawjo · January-16th-2005, 08:48 PM

Ikea is hell. Endless mazes of really shitty furniture, incredibly cheaply made. The shit is basically cardboard painted to look like wood. But yes it is cheap and plentiful, and it's great if you don't have much money.

But I just know that deciding to go to Ikea is a very serious matter, because if you decide to buy anything, chances are you won't be able to leave until about 2 hours later than you would prefer. You end up in these long lines, or you have to wait for the dipshits in the back to bring out your over-sized items. But it's all okay because while you wait they make sure you can spend more money on really bad food.

I hate Ikea. It's not great. It's soul-crushingly terrible.